Upon arriving at Demeritt Hill Farm, the smell of fresh cooked apple cider donuts is always lingering in the air, and children are screaming in delight as they feed goats and chickens in their pens across the parking lot.
There’s a line of at least thirty kids waiting to get their faces painted a rainbow of beautiful colors. And of course, the apples sitting in trees, just waiting to be picked. A hayride leaves periodically to bring excited apple-pickers up into the orchard.
Demeritt Hill Farm is a family farm based in Lee, NH. It was founded around 1820 and originally had dairy, meat, wool, and vegetables. Demeritt Hill Farm makes an effort to be more sustainable and they are open to feedback from the public, in order to make their farm the best that it can be.
Demeritt Hill Farm hosts many fall activities throughout the fall season. This weekend, fall activities kicked off with the annual Harvest Weekend Festival. The event took place from 11am to 4pm on both Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th. The event featured activities such as a bouncy house, face painting, and pony riding. There were activities for people of all ages, from food sampling to bobbing for apples to pumpkin painting. The farm’s bakery had some new treats available as well.
An information correspondent at Demeritt Hill Farm said, “People really enjoy getting outside and spending time picking apples, pumpkins and enjoying the fall weather. There are many things around the farm that kids can enjoy.” Most kids, and people of all ages love fall because of all the opportunities to get outside and do crafts and activities.
People really enjoy getting outside and spending time picking apples, pumpkins and enjoying the fall weather. There are many things around the farm that kids can enjoy.
Kenzie Clark (‘17) has been to the festival in previous years although she wasn’t able to go this year. Clark describes the festival as sort of a way to kick-start to the fall season for her. “It’s that time of year when you still want it to be summer and the festival always gets me excited for fall. September is kind of an in between season, a mix of summer and fall and this festival usually puts me in a fall mood.”
Jessica Leach (‘18) went to the festival this year for the first time and loved it, except for the fact that some activities seemed to have an age restriction. “There was a bouncy house, but I guess that was kind of an age restricted thing so I didn’t get to go in there.” Leach wishes there were some more activities geared towards teenagers and young adults.
“I really liked how you could go inside and buy a bunch of yummy treats, like muffins and cookies and things. I got to pick some apples too, I was happy that the orchards were still open even though the festival was going on.” Leach, like many others, considers apple picking one of her favorite fall activities. Clark agrees, saying, “Apple picking is always the best part. Nothing says fall like a bag full of nice fresh apples.”
Nothing says fall like a bag full of nice fresh apples.
Throughout the season, Demeritt Hill Farm has many different types of apples available for purchase as well as picking. They have Cortlands, MacIntosh, Zestar, and Honey Crisp currently. However, those non-apple lovers are in luck! Throughout late summer to early winter, the farm also has many other fresh goods, including blueberries, peaches, nectarines, and even Christmas Trees.
In case you missed Harvest Weekend, Demeritt Hill Farm has plenty of other activities this fall. They have their annual Pumpkinfest on October 8th-9th, Haunted Overload throughout the month of October, and Halloween Storybook Hayrides on October 15th-16th as well as October 22nd-23rd.
Writer: Anna Kate Munsey
Photo Credit to Demeritt Hill Farm